The Architecture of Historic Hungary

Overview

Hungary's legacy of historic and modernist buildings rivals that of any country in Eastern or Western Europe. This comprehensive survey of Hungarian architecture from Roman times to the present, the first to be published in English, makes that case abundantly clear. But to appreciate the architectural history of this Central European country, it is necessary to understand architectural solutions indigenous to the Central European region as a whole. This book is both a study of the relationship between Hungary's own architecture and history, and an introduction to the larger field of Central European architecture.

The authors, all leading Hungarian architectural historians with access to archives unavailable to Western scholars, provide insight into the special significance that political changes in Hungary had in the shaping of its architecture. They describe the relation of Hungarian architecture to the other arts, the assimilation of outside influences, and the search for an authentic national expression.

The authors cover the entire range of Hungarian architecture—including public, private, ecclesiastical, and governmental—as well as engineering, city planning, and technological advances. They also discuss the changing roles of patrons and guilds, and the contribution of architectural publications and education to the Hungarian architectural profession. Perhaps most revealing to Western readers are the illustrations and line drawings, which document one of the most neglected but fascinating architectural traditions of Europe.

Endorsements

"Timely and searching, this book comprises a welcome gathering ofessays that collectively document and present to the reader thearchitectural originality that has given form to Hungarian culture."—S.A. Mansbach, Associate Dean, Center for Advanced Study in theVisual Arts, National Gallery of Art